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Sunday, October 3, 2010

Are you ready for the Zombie Apocalypse? I am not quite ready yet. My personal goal is to have a 25,000 gallon water cistern and water treatment system. After that, bring it on...

A few years back, my brother-in-law (Coach) gifted the family with a book called World War Z, a memoir of the Zombie Apocalypse. The novel is told as if it were true, from the vantage point of someone collecting oral history of the 15 years since civilization packed up and went to hell in a handbasket.

I found it both disturbing and bizarre.

Then a few zombie movies enjoyed successful summer releases.

The expression, “Braiins!” entered the family vernacular.

The hubby and kids began to obsessively play Plants Vs Zombies on his iPhone.

People began to dress as zombies for Halloween.

Coach taught my baby how to roar to scare away zombies.

A few months ago we went to visit Coach and found he also has the companion guide to World War Z: The Complete Handbook for everything you need to survive the Zombie Apocalypse.

The familiar seldom seems as bizarre as the strange. As the idea has grown familiar, the Zombie Apocalypse (henceforth ZA) starts to seem reasonable. Certainly no harm could come of preparing oneself for it, just in case.

Recently I have begun to discuss the ZA with friends and strangers alike. I get strange looks, but as I explain myself, the expressions change to understanding, and more often than not I leave the conversation with another believer.

Why do I care whether they believe? Because we need to be prepared! Also, I need to identify essential people for a team: live together, die alone and all that.

So far my discussions have turned up a friend that grew up on a farm and knows how to slaughter and dress a chicken, and my ob/gyn who coolly told me he has already worked out an emergency radio contact plan in case we suddenly experience catastrophic communication failure. He just bought a ranch outside of town and has plans to open a clinic after the apocalypse. Before we spoke, he described himself more as a survivalist, but now he totally understands what we are working toward.

I pick both of these for my team.

In all seriousness, the idea of the ZA seems to signify something that touches us deep down inside, where fears lie buried in uncertainty. Everyone resonates with the idea of planning ahead for the possibility of civilization decline. Uneasiness about the political climate, economy, weather, and more creates this vague sense of needing to become independent of the culture on which we lean so heavily.

In good news, people have been preparing for the end of the world for millennia. We just add our lives to the list of those who understand that this age will not last forever and want to be prepared "when it all goes down."

Later this week, I will address in greater detail the connection I see between Zombies and the life of a Christ follower. There is one.

Also, I will share more about our ongoing adventures in the search for perfect spot for our own Zombie hideaway. Because rural South Central East Texas isn't middle of nowhere enough.

Naturally following that, I will chat about home. What is your home like? What feels like home? Why are we always searching for someplace more like home?

I think this first week of October will be fun around here. It could involve my very first video blog entry. And if you're really lucky, I might even look up a recipe for something to fuel us up while we fight off the Zombies together.

I love it! My family is also a fan of the World War Z and Zombie Survival Guide novels. We often have very detailed discussion of the impending ZA. I agree with you that they very cleverly touch on some fears within our culture and the need to prepare for an uncertain future. I look forward to your upcoming posts.